Drying streams, wells leave remote Rangamati
communities in crisis
Other Media desk, CHT News
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
For people in remote hilly areas, late spring and the
onset of summer dry up springs and wells, creating a shortage of drinking
water.
Their year-round reliance on spring water forces many
to dig holes near sources and install pipelines to collect what little water
remains.
More than 50 families in the Sapchari Joint Farm area
of Rangamati Sadar upazila face a shortage of potable water during the summer,
particularly from March.
To cope, residents installed a pipeline from a nearby
jhiri (small stream) under Furoman Hill to collect water for cooking, bathing
and drinking.
But the jhiri has recently dried up, leaving them
struggling. Even when a small amount of water flows through the pipeline, they
have to wait for hours.
The Roads and Highways Department in Rangamati
recently supplied 5,000 litres of drinking water to ease their suffering, but
residents say it is far from enough.
“We placed a water tank next to the jhiri to collect
water through a pipeline, but we still suffer during the summer and have to
wait from early morning till noon to collect water. The situation will worsen
in a few days,” said Kalindi Chakma, a resident.
Another resident, Jiken Chakma, echoed the concern.
“We couldn’t install a deep tube well due to rocks
underground, and digging a well is unlikely to yield water. We will always
struggle to get water,” he said.
The crisis is not limited to one area. Remote upazilas
such as Baghaichari, Barkal, Juraichari, Belaichari and Kaptai are also facing
shortages.
In Devtachari village of Wagga union in Kaptai, home
to about 70 families, a stream that once held water year-round has nearly dried
up.
“We used to bathe in the stream and use it for
household chores, but now it stays dry most of the year except during the
monsoon,” said resident Liton Tanchangya.
“Those who can afford it install tube wells and use
motor pumps, while others collect water from distant wells. In some areas, even
well water is unavailable,” he added.
Rekhin Chakma of Chelachhara village in Kawkhali said,
“During Falgun–Chaitra, we can sometimes get water by digging 8–10 feet, if we
are lucky.”
Sadhana Devi Chakma from the same village said,
“Sometimes we have to fight for water. After waiting in long lines for hours,
we often manage only a pitcher.”
Sabuj Chakma, founder of the Biodiversity Conservation
Society of CHT, said the main cause of the crisis is the destruction of natural
forests.
“Deforestation and monoculture plantations, including
teak, are drying up mountain streams and waterfalls. Climate change is
worsening the situation with droughts and erratic rainfall. Planting native
species along waterways could help,” he said.
Parag Barua, executive engineer of the Public Health
Engineering Department in Rangamati, said, “Water demand rises during the dry
season. We are identifying the worst-affected areas and prioritising them in
our work.”
Source: The Daily Star
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